Beauty

Question 1

What makes things beautiful?

Answer 1

1 possessing simple quality of beauty

2 having a specified form

Question 2

Further points of beauty?

Answer 2

3 imitation of nature

4 work of Genius

5 produces illusion

6 is an expression

7 leads to desirable social effects

8 causes pleasure

9 promotes specific emotion

Question 3

Outline historical permutations by Tatarkiewicz

Answer 3

1 locates origins of beauty in the ancient past m

2 however he thinks beauty in the broad sense has been in decline from its inception

4 19&20th centuries gave the final shot to old theory as sensible and intelligent

5 it now only reflects a fraction of what it was

6 only romanticism could have sustained the concept

Question 4

Is beauty measurable?

Answer 4

Pythagoras - number harmony music

Question 5

Problems with measuring beauty

Answer 5

1 varying tastes
2 no proof of beauty
3 proportion and symmetry not necessary for beauty
4 even if there is proportion we can’t explain how it turns into beauty

Question 6

Humes response?

Answer 6

Eye of the beholder-
Rejecting Pythagoras we are left with Hume saying that beauty is in the mind

Is it then an illusion?

Question 7

Humes eye of the beholder conclusion?

Answer 7

Some forms or qualities are so tuned with human natures they trigger pleasant feelings associated with beauty

Implying the right combination (sensitivity&experience&freedom from prejudice&good sense= normal state of mind) can react to beauty

Question 8

What is relativism in response to Hume

Answer 8

If normal means usual or common then it’s difficult to see how it’s beautiful because most people think so

If normal means right or appropriate then is cuticular

(If x is beautiful ur int he right state of mind and vice versa)

Question 9

Beauty in modern world?

Answer 9

Wilde- beauty replaces with aesthetic

Question 10

Define beauty

Answer 10

Pleasurable in appearance and valuable

Question 11

Define pretty

Answer 11

Pleasurable in appearance but doesn’t mean void of value, but not as valuable as beauty

Question 12

Define ugly

Answer 12

Not pleasurable in appearance , is it valueless?

Question 13

Outline aesthetic merit

Answer 13

Not all valuable works of art may be beautiful in the previous sense , we must be clear in the term of beauty we adopt

EG Picasso 1907 / Demoiselles d’avignon

Question 14

What is the paradox of tragedy?

Answer 14

People gain pleasure from sorrow or terror shown in. A well written tragedy

EG SHAKESPEARE Romeo and Juliet

Question 15

Is tragedy overlooked?

Answer 15

We put up with the horror of it because we can learn something from it that is valuable

Ugly work is valuable with or through it because it gains something

Question 16

Psychologically drawn to tragedy?

Answer 16

We have a psychological fascination with the horror but doesn’t explain the value of great art that appeal through ugliness

EG PORTRAIT OF INNOCENT X - velaquez 1650

Question 17

Third option

Answer 17

The unpleasantness May be a pleasure of some kind

Question 18

Why seek the tension: tragedy?

Answer 18

Historical factors
Function - saying something important with it

Saying something in a different way , different language